Stunning futuristic pictures of Dubai

These stunning images are some of the highlights of a new exhibition entitled Dubai of Lights & Dreams.

The work of French photographer Daniel Cheong, the photos captures the emirate it all its glowing, futuristic and mind-bending splendour.

You can view them at Alliance Française Dubai, where the free exhibition runs until 26.

Raised in Mauritius, originally of Chinese descent and currently based in Dubai, Cheong specialises in digital blending techniques which merge multiple bracketed exposures in order to obtain the maximum dynamic range.

‘I’m obsessed in making landscapes and cityscapes look better than they are, so my photos sometimes do not reflect the true reality, but more an idealized version of it,’ said the photographer.

We asked the artist to pick his favourite works from the show, and talk us through them.

Dubai of Lights & Dreams is at Alliance Française, Oud Metha, street 18, until February 26, open Saturday to Thursday from 8:30am to 6pm. For more info visit www.afdubai.org (04 335 87 12). Photos are on sale with prices starting from Dhs450.

The Veins of Dubai‘One of the main interchange of Dubai, this really looks like a network of organic veins.’

Once Upon a Time in Dubai‘This scene looks from a Walt Disney movie, with all its magical surreal atmosphere.’

Welcome to the Future‘The two iconic buildings of Dubai, shot from the east crescent of the Palm Jumeirah during a clear night, which is quite rare in Dubai. The cityscape looks very futuristic.’

Emergence‘I was lucky to be at the right place and time to capture this scene which looks like a sci-fi movie. Shot from the top of the Index Tower. This shot as well as many fog shots I took that night were featured on the CNN website.’

Dubai Central Processing Unit‘This scene reminds me of a computer’s electronic motherboard, with all its components and electronic circuitry. Shot from the helipad of a tower in Business Bay, which as a unique perspective on Sheikh Zayed Road.’

Vertigo Fog‘Shot from the 85th floor of Princess Tower in Dubai Marina, I have tried to give a sense of vertigo by really shooting with my camera looking down.’

A Rare Moment‘Shot from the rooftop of Cayan Tower in Dubai Marina, I was lucky to have that amazing sunset with sun beams, this is quite a rare site in Dubai.’

Parallel Worlds‘Another rare moment in Dubai with sun beams and still waters, which has allowed me to captured a perfectly mirrored image.’

VertiginousThis another 'vertigo' shot, with the great advantage of having a glass building, which allows to get a mirrored image of a unique perspective.

Do You Hear the Silence‘I really wanted to show the always traffic jammed Dubai with no cars at all. For that, I used a technique called “Long Exposure”, and the camera shutter is left open for several tens of seconds, therefore any object in movement will not be captured by the camera sensor.’

Burj Al Arab and Wild Wadi‘Shot from one of the waterslide towers of Wild Wadi water park, this was shot a few hours before the amazing fireworks which was done for the UAE National Day.’

Dubai Diamond Ring‘This is quite a unique view of Burj Khalifa surrounded by the circular boulevard, which reminds me of a diamond ring. This was shot a few hours before the 2013 New Year fireworks.’

Glamorous Dubai Marina‘The very glamorous Dubai Marina and the Marina Yacht Club with its unique architecture.’

Marina Canyon‘This is shot with a telephoto lens, therefore it creates that “compression effect” which give the impression that the buildings are very close to each others. And with the water, this perspective reminds me of canyon.’